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May 16, 2008 11:32:02 PM CDT

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Protesters Disrupt Olympic Torch Exchange  

Posted Mar 30, 08 3:23 PM CDT in Sports,  World    Most Covered

(newser) – Protesters against China’s Tibet crackdown shook up today’s Olympic torch hand-off in Athens, the New York Times reports. Some 15 people dodged security to fly banners and shout “Free Tibet” as they tried to block Greek officials from passing the flame to Beijing authorities. Ten were nabbed by police, but it’s not yet clear whether they’ll face charges.

Riot squads and dozens of cops, part of Athens’ 1,000-strong event security force for the event, took the protesters to Greece’s national police headquarters soon after the start of the ceremony. Earlier, three supporters of Falun Gong, which is outlawed in China, were also apprehended by police for handing out leaflets. Today’s dust-up follows a number of protests across Greece against China’s reaction to Tibetan demonstrations.

Source New York Times

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Protesters Disrupt Olympic Torch Exchange
A detained pro-Tibet protester shows the victory sign through the window of a police van outside the Panathenian Stadium where the Olympic flame handover ceremony was held in Athens, March 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dimitri Messinis)
Protesters Disrupt Olympic Torch Exchange
Police surround a pro-Tibet protesters, detained outside the marble Panathenian Stadium where the Olympic flame handover ceremony was held for the Beijing Olympics, in Athens, Sunday, March 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Yiannis Petridis)
Protesters Disrupt Olympic Torch Exchange
Police surround a pro-Tibet protester outside the marble Panathenian Stadium where the Olympic flame handover ceremony was held for the Beijing Olympics, in Athens, Sunday, March 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Phil Ipparis)
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China  • 2008 Beijing Olympics  • Tibet  • Olympic torch  • Greece  • protesters  • Athens  • Falun Gong


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